com·pre·hen·sion   (kŏm'prĭ-hěn'shən)    n.   The act or fact of grasping the meaning, nature, or importance of; understanding. The knowledge that is acquired in this way. Capacity to include. Logic The sum of meanings and corresponding implications inherent in a term. [Middle English comprehensioun, from Latin comprehēnsiō, comprehēnsiōn-, from comprehēnsus, past participle of comprehendere, to comprehend; see comprehend.]

Comprehension

Com`pre*hen"sion\, n. [L. comprehensio: cf. F. compr['e]hension.]

1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion.

In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old. --Hooker.

2. That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome. [Obs.]

Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them. --Chillingworth.

3. The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles.

4. (Logic) The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term.

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.

comprehension com·pre·hen·sion (kŏm'prĭ-hěn'shən)
n.
See apperception.